It’ll be Niemi in goal tonight vs. Dallas — and some speculation on where Nabokov could land

For openers, Antti Niemi gets the start tonight against the Dallas Stars.

“We thought that he played a pretty darn good game the other day,” Todd McLellan said, referring to his team’s 2-1 OT victory over Chicago. “I think he’d like to have the one goal back that did go in, but other than that he was solid.”

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As for Evgeni Nabokov’s situation, I’ve got nothing yet from the parties directly involved. But sources connected to the team said that his wife, Tabitha, and their two children may have visited him in Russia, but didn’t make the move with him, choosing instead to remain in their San Jose home. Considering Tabitha grew up in Kentucky and met Nabokov when he played in San Jose’s Lexington farm team, that’s not a big surprise.

Dan Boyle, for example, said his wife had been in contact with Tabitha over the past couple months, but that he learned only of Nabokov’s departure from Ska St. Petersburg when he heard about it this morning.

Here’s what McLellan had to say when the subject came up:

“What I can tell you is that Nabby is a very strong family guy and when I hear ‘for family reasons’ I can understand why,” the coach said. “He’s got two great kids at home and a great wife. I think he’s very comfortable when it comes to finances. He made a family decision and you can’t help but respect Nabby for that.

“Other than that,” McLellan added, “I don’t know anything else about the situation over in Russia and I don’t know what can happen over here for him. But he’s a good person and he’s a great goalie. Hopefully he’ll get an opportunity.”

Lots of speculation where Nabokov might end up, but the one I like has him in Washington, a team struggling in goal and where his buddy, Alex Ovechkin, might have some sway. Coincidentally, Nabokov would then be working with another ex-Shark, Arturs Irbe, who is the Caps goalie coach, and Nabokov could also mentor young Russian netminder, Semyon Varlamov.

Then again, the most desperate NHL team when it comes to goaltending is Tampa Bay, where Mike Smith and Dan Ellis have the Lightning at the No. 30 spot with a collective 3.43 GAA and .872 save percentage.

****It was an optional skate this morning, and even if it weren’t, we’ve learned that rushes on game day often have little in common with line combinations that night.

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And once I saw Devin Setoguchi, who isn’t playing, at center for Joe Pavelski and John McCarthy, I knew not to start writing down all the jersey numbers.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Get CenterIce, watch the opponent’s feed on mute, and stream Dan and Jamie on KFOX.

Not perfect, but f u Comcast.

Linkster

Rusanowsky says “lower body injury” for Murray last game.

BASS

Long time no cup – not sure, Brodie said that he saw Murray in a suit walking in the hallway just a few minutes ago.

ci

you can’t watch the opponents feed if you live in the bay area . it is blacked out on center ice. only if you are outside the market do you get opponents’ feed.

Sharkie1016

You will not get the games on Center Ice unless you live 100 miles away from San Jose. Comcast is offering $150.00 to leave Dish and switch to any other provider. I heard it dose not have to be Comcast that you switch too. I have Direct TV and had my problems last year with VS. network. My option was Justintv.com or head to the bar.

PlasticPuck14:I went round and round with Dish and finally just switched to DTV. I get a better price for the next 12 mos anyway. With the rebate from DTV and the bribery offer from CSN, I got enough to pay off Dish AND buy Center Ice. Dish offered me $15 to stay. Yikes.

Even while I was canceling my Dish service, the woman on the phone gave me the “you do realize that Comcast was making unfair demands….” speech. I said “That’s not my problem any more, thank you.”

yemil

Going to a bar doesn’t work so well for those east coast 4/5PM starts.

But i agree, screw Comcast anyway, even if i have to miss those east coast games. Who i’m even more disappointed with is NHL. They just left their fans hanging. Not even an apology, like its granted that we’ll all run back to them.
I’m sure they lost a lot of fans with their attitude. I’m sure they have a say in this. All they have to do is demand that Comcast not black out local games on CenterIce for this particular market. That, sort of, defeats the Comcast’s purpose of this saga, but if NHL decides to reconsider their contract with CSN, Comcast may reconsider their stand on this issue.

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